Buying a breast pump before birth (spectra)

[flowerchop]

Is it completely silly to order the spectra s1 pump. It's hospital grade and I definitely want baby on at least one bottle fed breast milk per day. I haven't had the baby yet, due any time soon.
Is it possible I just won't get milk and a pump is pointless ?

I bought the elvie this time and the hospital grade medela with my first baby

and although I breast fed my first for a year and am on my way to doing so with me second - I’ve never ever managed to successfully use either of my pumps - very little milk comes out but lots of milk comes out when my baby suckles

so personally I would just wait and see what happens before you take the plunge

I actually bought the Spectra, and it's a decent enough pump. However I found I got as much milk with a hand pump Medela, and given it is much smaller, lighter, and easy to carry and clean, I used that a lot and barely touched my Spectra. If wait personally, and you can order it pretty quickly if needed.

I never managed to pump successfully with my first. When I gave up trying I was relieved.

I are you thinking of Combi feeding from the beginning or BFing with one bottle of expressed?

She said she wants to give a bottle of expressed.

You’re not really supposed to pump in the first month, just feed, feed, feed to establish supply so I’d hold off if I were you and then you can see what’s what.

She said she wants to give a bottle of expressed

Yes, I did read that bit too.

Its alright to pump in the beginning. I did In hospital. My boobs were too engorged. Was such a relief!

That wasn’t what the lactation consultant in the hospital told me.

Yes I used this pump (I also bought before baby arrived) and it was excellent!

The midwife got me it to use. I was in too much pain. Loads pump in the beginning. As long as its not crazy amounts.

I work as a midwife with an interest in infant feeding. It's highly unlikely you won't be making milk. What might be helpful is to hand express some colostrum and bring it to hospital in case the first feed is delayed for whatever reason. You can start hand expressing from 37 weeks (a pump is useless until milk comes in on day 3 or 4). Ask your community midwife for some syringes to express the colostrum into. Then you stick them in the freezer and bring to hospital in a cool bag. It could make a massive difference in case you end up with a Caesarean section etc. The first 6-8 weeks you would need to work on establishing breastfeeding- feed your baby whenever Baby looks hungry. It's best not to use dummies or bottles in those early weeks. Then you decide what's best for you. Personally, I got myself a 2nd hand hand Medela pump from Ebay and it did me very well.

You can pump early on if you’re having issues with latching. I have the spectra, it’s one of the better pumps but the medela hand pumps are good! Get a pumping bra if you’re getting a spectra, then you have your hands free.

Thanks all ! I think I'll hold off buying it. Interesting with the varied opinions on when to start pumping. I am worried if I wait till 6 weeks then baby may completely refuse the bottle.
I've hand expressed 18ml of colostrum but decided to stop now as I think it'll be enough and was getting sore - and if I'm able to get colostrum anyway, baby should be able to suckle it out hopefully ?

18 ml of colostrum is amazing, well done !!! It's plenty in my opinion. Of course your baby will be able to suck out the colostrum. This is what babies did for millions of years before formula companies came along. When you baby is born start counting wet and dirty nappies- this is how your midwife will be able to tell if you baby is getting enough milk in the first few days. We only check babies weight on day 5 (most babies lose weight- under 10% is considered normal). Newborns usually have a good feed right after birth and tend to feed infrequently in the next 24 hours. This is Mother Nature grace period for mum to recover. Then THE REAL FUN starts- they feed like crazy until mum's milk comes in, especially at night. I have seen many parents panic on the postnatal ward when in fact it's normal baby behaviour - they are working on their long-term milk supply. However as long as baby is peeing and pooing all is usually good in a baby's world - your midwife will advise if any concerns. I don't have much experience with older babies. My gut feeling is a 6 weeks old is very unlikely to refuse a bottle. They are still very simple creatures at that stage. You will meet your health visitor around day 10 - HV will have lots of experience with older babies.